Gate for chain link fence

ABSTRACT

Gate utilizes a continuation portion of the chain-link fabric of the fence for a gate by disposing a pivot shaft vertically interwoven through the interlocking pickets of the fence fabric adjacent one edge of the gateway and attaching the pivot shaft to the terminal post adjacent the gateway. The continuation portion of the fabric which is the gate extends beyond the pivot shaft and spans the gateway. Thus, the gateway may be opened or closed by bending action of the continuation portion of the chain-link fabric of the fence about the pivot shaft. Adjustable means are provided for tensioning the continuation portion of the chainlink fabric.

[ June 26, 1973 GATE FOR CHAIN-LINK FENCE [75] Inventor: William H. Johns, Hudson, Ohio [73] Assignee: United States Steel Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: Mar. 2, 1972 [21] Appl. No.2 231,279

[52] US. Cl. 49/381, 256/37 [51] Int. Cl E06b 11/00 [58] Field of Search 49/381, 191, 386,

3/1958 Lanmon 256/32 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 273,072 11/1966 Australia 49/381 Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor Attorney-Donald S. Ferito 5 7] ABSTRACT Gate utilizes a continuation portion of the chain-link fabric of the fence for a gate by disposing a pivot shaft vertically interwoven through the interlocking pickets of the fence fabric adjacent one edge of the gateway and attaching the pivot shaft to the terminal post adjacent the gateway. The continuation portion of the fabric which is the gate extends beyond the pivot shaft and spans the gateway. Thus, the gateway may be opened or closed by bending action of the continuation portion of the chain-link fabric of the fence about the pivot shaft. Adjustable means are provided for tensioning the continuation portion of the chain-link fabric.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures GATE FOR CHAIN-LINK FENCE The present invention relates generally to fencing and more particularly to a swing gate for a chain-link fence.

Swing chain-like gates made prior to my invention generally required a tubular frame completely circumscribing the central chain-link portion of the gate, and cross-bracing to prevent sagging of the gate. These gates also required sturdy hinge devices affixed to their gate posts and terminal posts of the fence. All of this increased the material and construction costs of the gate.

It is, accordingly, the primary object of my invention to provide an improved chain-link gate for a chain-link fence which requires a minimum number of parts other than the chain-link fabric itself.

It is another object of my invention to provide a gate for a chain-link fence in which the chain-link fabric itself is utilized as a hinging means.

It is a more specific object of my invention to provide a gate for a chain-link fence as set forth by the above statements of objects wherein the chain-link fabric of the fence is extended beyond the terminal post to span a gateway in the fence; a pivot shaft is vertically interwoven through the interlocking pickets of the fence fabric adjacent the terminal post on the side thereof toward the gateway; and then attaching the pivot shaft to the terminal post extending parallel therewith. Thus, the gateway may be opened or closed bybending action of the chain-link fabric about the pivot shaft. Adjustable means are provided for tensioning the chainlink fabric of the gate.

These and other objects will become more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawing, in which:

FIG. I is an elevational view of a chain-link fence having the gate of my invention installed therein;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the gate of my invention with parts cut away for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a partial planview taken substantially along the line IIl-III-of FIG.2; and

FIGL4 is an enlargedelevational view of part of the gate tensioning means of the invention. Referring more particularly to the drawing, reference numeral 2 designates generally a chain-link fence constructed with the swing gate of my invention, designated generally by reference numeral 4.

v The chain-link fabric offence 2 is extended along a fence line supported by upright posts 6 anchored in concrete or similar material. The chain-link fabric is continued beyond a gate or terminal post 8 for a sufficient distance to span a gateway or gate opening 10. Before the fence is tensioned, clamps 12 are affixed loosely to the top and bottom of the terminal post 8. A pivot shaft 14 is inserted interwoven vertically through the fence fabric by collapsing two pickets of the fabric on the side of the terminal post toward the gateway and inserting the pivot shaft through the opening thus formed.

At the same time, the pivot shaft is passed through the'eyes of eye bolts 16 which are vertically spaced in horizontal disposition along the chain-link fabric extending beyond the terminal post toward the gateway.

The pivot shaft 14 is then affixed in spaced parallel relation to the terminal post 8 by tightening the clamps 12 around the pivot shaft and the terminal post. The fence is then tensioned in conventional manner with the pivot shaft 14 anchoring the fence to the terminal post 8.

The gate 4 portion of the fabric is provided with three vertically spaced horizontal bars 18 interwoven therethrough. The ends of the bars 18 remote from the pivot shaft 14 are welded or otherwise rigidly affixed to a tension rod 20 which is vertically interwoven through the terminal picket 22 of the gate portion of the fabric. As best shown in FIG. 2, the picket 22 is woven into the fabric enclosing the rod 20 and is fastened top and bottom to the remainder of the fabric.

A pair of sleeves 24 are rigidly fastened as by welding or similar means to the bottom of each bar 18, one adjacent the end thereof toward the pivot shaft 14 and the other spaced therefrom toward the center of the bar. Each pair of sleeves slidably receives the threaded shank 26 of one of the eye bolts 16. A nut 28 is threaded on each of the shanks 26 and serve to adjust the tension of the gate 4 by increasing or decreasing the distance between the pivot shaft and the proximate ends of the horizontal bars 18.

In operation, when the gate 4 is opened or closed, the

portion of the fence to the right of pivot shaft 14, as

viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, bends around the pivot shaft relative to the main body of the fence to the left of the pivot shaft. During such bending action, the first picket of the continuation portion of the fabric through which the pivot shaft 14 is interwoven rotates about the pivot shaft.

A bifurcated latch 30 may be pivotally mounted on a terminal post 32 on the side of gateway 10 opposite terminal post 8. The'latch 30 engages the free vertical edge of the gate 4 to maintain the gate in closed position. The latch is pivoted out of engagement with the gate to permit the gate to be opened.

While I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a chain-link fence made of woven fabric formed with interlocking pickets, a plurality of spaced anchored upright posts supporting said fabric, said fence having a gateway therein between two adjacent posts the improvement therewith of a gate assembly for said gateway, said gate assembly comprising a clamping member adjacent the top and bottom of one of said posts adjacent said gateway, a continuation of said fence fabric extending beyond said one of said posts toward the other of said adjacent posts, a vertically disposed pivot shaft connected with said one of said adjacent posts by means of said clamps, said pivot shaft being interwoven vertically through interlocking pickets of said continuation of said fence fabric adjacent said one of said adjacent posts and extending substantially parallel with said one of said adjacent posts whereby said continuation portion of said fence fabric is adapted to pivot about said pivot shaft to selectively open and close said gateway, and tensioning means mounted on said continuation portion of said fence fabric for keeping the continuation portion of said fabric taut.

2. In a chain-link fence the improvement therewith as defined by claim 1 including a rigid tension bar interwoven vertically through the picket on the end of said continuation portion remote from said one of said adjacent posts, a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal i rigid bars interwoven through said continuation portion of said fence fabric, one end of each of said bars being rigidly connected with said tension bar and its opposite end terminating short of said pivot shaft, and longitudinally adjustable means connecting each of said horizontal bars with said pivot shaft.

3. In a chain-link fence as defined by claim 2 in which said longitudinally adjustable connecting means each comprises an eye bolt pivotally mounted at its eye end on said pivot shaft, each of said eye bolts having a threaded shank extending normally from said pivot shaft toward one of said horizontal bars, two spaced sleeves rigidly mounted adjacent the end of each of said horizontal bars, the threaded shank of each eye bolt said fence fabric. 

1. In a chain-link fence made of woven fabric formed with interlocking pickets, a plurality of spaced anchored upright posts supporting said fabric, said fence having a gateway therein between two adjacent posts the improvement therewith of a gate assembly for said gateway, said gate assembly comprising a clamping member adjacent the top and bottom of one of said posts adjacent said gateway, a continuation of said fence fabric extending beyond said one of said posts toward the other of said adjacent posts, a vertically disposed pivot shaft connected with said one of said adjacent posts by means of said clamps, said pivot shaft being interwoven vertically through interlocking pickets of said continuation of said fence fabric adjacent said one of said adjacent posts and extending substantially parallel with said one of said adjacent posts whereby said continuation portion of said fence fabric is adapted to pivot about said pivot shaft to selectively open and close said gateway, and tensioning means mounted on said continuation portion of said fence fabric for keeping the continuation portion of said fabric taut.
 2. In a chain-link fence the improvement therewith as defined by claim 1 including a rigid tension bar interwoven vertically through the picket on the end of said continuation portion remote from said one of said adjacent posts, a plurality of vertically spaced horizontal rigid bars interwoven through said contiNuation portion of said fence fabric, one end of each of said bars being rigidly connected with said tension bar and its opposite end terminating short of said pivot shaft, and longitudinally adjustable means connecting each of said horizontal bars with said pivot shaft.
 3. In a chain-link fence as defined by claim 2 in which said longitudinally adjustable connecting means each comprises an eye bolt pivotally mounted at its eye end on said pivot shaft, each of said eye bolts having a threaded shank extending normally from said pivot shaft toward one of said horizontal bars, two spaced sleeves rigidly mounted adjacent the end of each of said horizontal bars, the threaded shank of each eye bolt being slidably received in the sleeves on one of said horizontal bars, a nut threaded on each of said shanks between the respective sleeves receiving the same whereby rotation of each of said nuts about its respective shank in one direction increases the distance between the pivot shaft and its respective horizontal bar and thereby increases the tension in the continuation portion of said fence fabric and rotation of the nut in the opposite direction decreases the distance between the pivot shaft and its respective horizontal bar thereby decreasing the tension in the continuation portion of said fence fabric. 